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Signalling Desistance? Crime Attitudes, Perceptions of Punishment, and Exposure to Criminogenic Models

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine individual perceptions of the consequences of crime, the role of criminogenic models, and whether rational choice and criminal social capital are informative of desistance during emerging adulthood.

Methods

Data from the Incarcerated Serious and Violent Young Offender Study were used to examine the relationship between different aspects of rational choice theories of desistance, criminogenic environment, and offending trajectories measured between ages 12 and 30, calculated using semi-parametric group-based modeling. Offending trajectories were then modeled using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Trajectory analyses identified three desistance trajectories and three non-desistance trajectories. The strongest predictors of desistance trajectories included variables that relate to rational choices that considered the consequences of crime.

Conclusions

Rational choice and life course perspectives on desistance as complementary, with sources of informal social control operating in a manner that, along with other factors, helps structure an individual’s consideration of, and importance placed on, the consequences of crime.

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Notes

  1. These attitudinal measures may be considered opinions, but we will use this terminology to be consistent with the literature. Moreover, it is important to note the alpha level for this measure is moderate.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (410-2004-1875).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Olivia K. Ha, Evan C. McCuish, Martin A. Andresen & Raymond R. Corrado

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Correspondence to Martin A. Andresen.

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Appendix

Appendix

Crime Motives and Attitudes

How many of your friends think you’re strong and tough?

  • (1)All, (2) Most, (3) Some, (4) Hardly Any, (5) None

Describe your feeling about the current offense you committed using the seven-point scale:

  • Sorry(1)/Glad(7); Would not do it again(1)/Would do it again(7); Not fun(1)/Fun(7)

When you do crime, it is because you want to get things/money:

  • (1)Totally, (2) Mostly, (3) Somewhat, (4) Hardly at all, (5) Not at all

Deterrence from Crime

The following would play a role in my decision to commit an offence, if I was to commit one, in the first 12 months following my release:

  1. (a)

    If I was bored/thrills

This (present) sentence will stop me from committing another crime.

Likelihood of Detection

Indicate what you believe the changes are that you would get caught by the police if you committed any of the following crimes:

  1. (a)

    Commit the same offence again

Consequences of Crime

Before I commit a crime, I think about:

  1. (a)

    What my parents will think/do

  2. (b)

    What will happen to me if I’m caught

My sentence makes it difficult for me to get along with:

  1. (a)

    My parents

  2. (b)

    Police Officers

Criminogenic Models

In your opinion, how many of your friends are delinquents or criminals:

  • (2) All, (2) Most, (3) Some, (4) Hardly Any, (5) None

Thinking about all your family members, who in your family… has a criminal record?

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Ha, O.K., McCuish, E.C., Andresen, M.A. et al. Signalling Desistance? Crime Attitudes, Perceptions of Punishment, and Exposure to Criminogenic Models. J Dev Life Course Criminology 5, 415–436 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40865-019-00114-7

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